APC, PDP Trade Accusations Over Disrupted Kwara Empowerment Programme

A political clash has erupted in Kwara State after an empowerment programme organised by the APC Central Women Leader, Tawakalitu Agaka, popularly known as Hajia Tawa, was disrupted by a group accused of being supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The programme, held on Saturday at Agaka’s family residence in Ilorin, was organised for women, youths and widows, with cash assistance reportedly given to about 200 beneficiaries. The confrontation has since sparked a war of words between the APC and PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A video from the event showed people chanting opposing political slogans as security personnel moved in to prevent the situation from escalating. The APC alleged that PDP supporters arrived at the venue and verbally confronted Agaka and other party supporters.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s Senior Special Assistant on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, accused supporters of former Senate President Bukola Saraki and PDP governorship candidate Bolakale Kawu of attempting to revive political thuggery in the state. He argued that Agaka had committed no offence by organising the programme and mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRazaq and other APC candidates.

“Are we just having different politicians from one house? What is the crime in that?” Abdullateef asked, describing the incident as a return of “thuggery and hooliganism” to Kwara politics. He also urged residents to reject what he called anti-democratic behaviour ahead of the 2027 elections.

The PDP rejected the accusation, saying the people who confronted the APC supporters were residents exercising their right to question the empowerment programme. Kwara PDP Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, described the APC’s response as evidence of frustration within the AbdulRazaq administration and criticised the description of residents as “thugs and hooligans.”

The opposition party also questioned the timing of the programme, alleging that the community had been neglected for years and that the intervention was politically motivated ahead of the 2027 elections. The PDP said residents had the right to reject what it described as politically calculated gestures and demanded an apology from Governor AbdulRazaq over the comments attributed to his aide.

Despite the confrontation, security personnel reportedly prevented the disagreement from turning violent, allowing the empowerment programme to continue. The incident adds to growing political tension in Kwara as the APC and PDP intensify their preparations for the 2027 elections.